Joint device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device/connection which can be used e.g. in a vacuum cleaner pipe, which thereby can be made bendable to facilitate vacuum-cleaning under beds, tables and the like. I one simple operation a moveable part ( 5 ) can be displaced inwards, whereupon a locking pipe ( 6 ) prevents a bendable hose ( 2 ) from being bent when the operator so desires, for instance during cleaning of open surfaces without obstacles. Cleaning under beds can however cause the operator to redraw the locking pipe ( 6 ) with the moveable part ( 5 ), whereupon the vacuum cleaner pipe becomes bendable again and the operator can vacuum-clean under the bed in standing position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a flexible joint intended to connect two partswith each other, the connected parts being able to be rigid, ofhose-type or a combination thereof, for instance of that pipe-type beingused in vacuum-cleaners, implying that the joint is positioned betweenthe rigid pipe means, which is connected to the suction nozzle of thevacuum-cleaner, and the hose which is connected to the vacuum-cleanermachine itself.

Vacuum-cleaners, as a rule, are designed in that way that the hose ofthe vacuum-cleaner at its one end is connected to the vacuum-cleanermachine itself and at its other end to the one end of that pipe which atits other end is connected to the nozzle of the vacuum-cleaner. Thispipe, as a rule, is made of plastic material or a light metal materialand is accordingly rigidly designed. Furthermore, the pipe has such alength that a person of normal length, who seizes the pipe approximatelyat the transition portion to the hose can vacuum-clean open areas in anessentially upright position.

If, on the contrary, the person in question should try to vacuum-cleanunder beds and chests of drawers by means of known equipment, the personin question has to huddle up strongly and even go down on his knees,which is felt very troublesome.

A joint of the kind mentioned by way of introduction is previously knownbut has not got any larger spreading on the market, probably dependentupon unsatisfying function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new type of flexible joint, preferably apipe joint, which makes possible an effective and comfortable handlingwhen using the same in for instance the pipeline of the vacuum-cleaner.By means of this new pipe joint is an effective vacuum-cleaning madepossible not only on open areas but also on inaccessible areas like forinstance areas under beds and chests of drawers. Moreover, the vacuumcleaning is facilitated on top of cup boards and the like.

The pipe joint mentioned has features described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two preferred embodiments of the new pipe joint shall be described moreclosely below with reference to the accompanying drawings, where FIG. 1shows a first embodiment of the pipe joint, FIG. 2 shows a ball jointbeing a part of the pipe joint according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows asecond embodiment of the pipe joint.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 is shown there the new pipe joint. This one isaccording to the example intended to be placed between two pipelines,the one of which is indicated by the FIG. 1. The pipe joint, accordingto this embodiment, has five co-operating ball joints 2-6, of which fourones 3-6 are essentially identical. Each identical ball joint 3-6 (seealso FIG. 2), comprises a first 7 and a second 8 part. The first part 7comprises essentially a circular-cylindrical pipe portion, which passesover to the second part 8, which has essentially modified ball-shapewith a hole 9 at its centre part, going through it, the modified ballbeing able to be regarded as truncated at two diametrically opposedportions, which portions are passed by the cavity 9. In order that thesecond, rounded part 8 of the ball joint 3-6 shall smoothly be adaptedto the first part 7 of the following ball joint, the cavity 10 of thementioned first part has not circular-cylindrical form, but roundedrecesses 11 are made in the cavity 10 of the first part 7 of each balljoint 3-6.

The first ball joint 2 has principally the same design as the balljoints 3-6. The only difference is that the first part 12 of the balljoint has a longer circular-cylindrical portion than the correspondingportions of the ball joints 3-6. The reason why is to get a betteradaptation of the ball joint 2 to connecting pipeline and lockingsleeve, which shall be described more closely below.

As appears from FIG. 1b, c is the front portion of the first part 7 ofeach ball joint 3-6 bevelled at the top of the part (seen in theposition the pipe joint has in FIG. 1). Due to that fact is created anopen space 13 between the rear, upper portion of the first part 7 of aball joint and the front, upper portion of the first part 7 of anadjacent ball joint. This space, as is shown in FIG. 1a, can beeffectively utilised for bending the pipe joint. It should be realisedthat the more ball joints of the shown type that are arranged, thelarger can the angle α be made. With that design that the pipe joint hasaccording to this embodiment, the pipe joint cannot be bent downwards inthe diametrically opposite direction compared with the upwards-directedbending according to FIG. 1a, because the rear, lower portion of thefirst part 7 of a ball joint and the front, lower portion of the firstpart 7 of an adjacent ball joint go into contact with each other at thebottom (see the reference designation 17 in FIG. 1c). This means that,under assumption that the mentioned pipe joint is arranged on thepipeline of a vacuum-cleaner, by turning the pipeline about 180° fromthe position it has in FIG. 1a, a completely straight pipe joint isobtained, which makes possible an effective vacuum cleaning on openareas.

In FIG. 1 is also shown a locking sleeve 14, which according to thisembodiment is simply displaceable forwards and backwards in relation tothe ball joints, the displacement being made on the outside of the balljoints. In FIG. 1a are accordingly none of the active ball jointslocked, in FIG. 1b are some of the ball joints locked by means of thelocking sleeve 14, and in FIG. 1c are all active ball joints locked.

By means of this locking sleeve it is accordingly possible to simplychange the value of the angle α from naught and upwards, the changebeing made in steps. The size of the change of the angle is dependentpartly upon the size of the space 13 between the first parts of twoadjacent ball joints, partly upon the number of ball joints.

As has been mentioned previously is according to this embodiment thepipe joint intended to be positioned between two pipelines. In thisconnection the pipe sleeve 14 can be composed of an end portion of theone pipeline. The locking of the pipe joint in this case shouldaccordingly be made by telescopic co-operation between the twopipelines.

As appears from FIG. 1 is a plus sign 15 arranged on each ball joint.With this plus sign is indicated that the second part of the one balljoint is fastened to the first part of the co-operating ball joint insuch a way that the pipe joint can be bent upwards as is shown in FIG.1a but not in the cross direction. Suitably there is a similar fasteningbetween the parts on the opposite side, seen in the diametricaldirection. By this arrangement a very stable pipe joint is obtained.

In FIG. 3 is shown a second embodiment of the pipe joint. This pipejoint is fundamentally built up in the same way as that one according toFIG. 1. The difference consists of the placing of the locking sleeve 16.Thus, this locking sleeve is placed inside of the pipe joint but isdisplaceable in relation to the ball joints in the corresponding way asin the embodiment according to FIG. 1. The locking sleeve 16, accordingto this second embodiment, constitutes the end portion of one of thepipelines, the locking of the pipe joint being made by telescopicco-operation between the two pipelines.

According to FIG. 3 the locking sleeve 16 is completely pushed in,implying that all ball joints are locked in relation to each other,which in its turn means that the pipe joint is essentially straight.

The invention is of course not limited to the shown and describedembodiments but can be modified within the scope of the followingclaims. Thus, this new invention could have use within different fieldsand for different products. An example could be the shaft of a cleaningmop. In this connection the new joint should be placed between two partsof the shaft. Furthermore, it is not important if the parts that areconnected by the joint are hollow or massive.

The means intended to lock the pipe joints can in the embodimentaccording to FIG. 1 be composed of the one end portion of the onepipeline or of a separate sleeve that is arranged on the outside of thepipeline.

The new joint is made of suitable material, for instance metal, plasticor a combination thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible joint intended to connect two partswith each other, the connected parts being able to be rigid,characterized by the combination of the following features: the jointcomprises a plurality of ball joints (3-6), co-operating with eachother, allowing the joint to be bent from a position where the two partsand the connecting joint are essentially horizontally directed, topositions where one part (1) forms an angle (α) with the other part; thejoint or one part (1) comprises means (14, 16) movably displaceablealong all of the ball joints (3-6) to different positions in relation tothe ball joints (3-6) the means being able to enter into engagement withand lock one or more of the ball joints (3-6) resulting in the angle (α)being adjusted in steps from 0° and greater.
 2. A joint according toclaim 1, characterized in that the means for locking one or more balljoints (3-6) is composed of a sleeve (14) which is dispaceably arrangedon the outside of the joint.
 3. A joint according to claim 2,characterized in that the sleeve constitutes the end portion of the oneconnecting part.
 4. A joint according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe sleeve (14) is composed of a separate sleeve which is displaceableon the outside of the joint.
 5. A joint according to claim 1,characterized in that the locking means (16) for locking one or moreball joints (3-6) constitutes the end portion of one of the parts and isintended to enter into engagement with the ball joints (3-6) inside ofthe ball joints (3-6).
 6. A joint according to claim 1, characterized inthat each ball joint (3-6) comprises a first, essentiallycircular-cylindrical part (7), which passes over to a second part (8),which has modified ball-shape, the front upper portion of the first part(7) being bevelled such that, when two adjacent ball joints lie instraight position, there is a space (13) at the top between the twoadjacent ball joints, which permits bending of the adjacent ball jointsin one direction with respect to one another and that a front, lower,diametrically opposite portion, is designed such that when two adjacentball joints have a straight position, the two ball joints will be incontact with each other at the bottom (17), whereby bending of the jointto the diametrically opposite direction, is prevented.
 7. A jointaccording to claim 2, characterized in that each ball joint (3-6)comprises a first, essentially circular-cylindrical part (7), whichpasses over to a second part (8), which has modified ball-shape, thefront upper portion of the first part (7) being bevelled such that, whentwo adjacent ball joints lie in straight position, there is a space (13)at the top between the two adjacent ball joints, which permits bendingof the adjacent ball joints in one direction with respect to one anotherand that a front, lower, diametrically opposite portion, is designedsuch that when two adjacent ball joints have a straight position, thetwo ball joints will be in contact with each other at the bottom (17),whereby bending of the joint to the diametrically opposite direction, isprevented.
 8. A joint according to claim 3, characterized in that eachball joint (3-6) comprises a first, essentially circular-cylindricalpart (7), which passes over to a second part (8), which has modifiedball-shape, the front upper portion of the first part (7) being bevelledsuch that, when two adjacent ball joints lie in straight position, thereis a space (13) at the top between the two adjacent ball joints, whichpermits bending of the adjacent ball joints in one direction withrespect to one another and that a front, lower, diametrically oppositeportion, is designed such that when two adjacent ball joints have astraight position, the two ball joints will be in contact with eachother at the bottom (17), whereby bending of the joint to thediametrically opposite direction, is prevented.
 9. A joint according toclaim 4, characterized in that each ball joint (3-6) comprises a first,essentially circular-cylindrical part (7), which passes over to a secondpart (8), which has modified ball-shape, the front upper portion of thefirst part (7) being bevelled such that, when two adjacent ball jointslie in straight position, there is a space (13) at the top between thetwo adjacent ball joints, which permits bending of the adjacent balljoints in one direction with respect to one another and that a front,lower diametrically opposite portion, is designed such that when twoadjacent ball joints have a straight position, the two ball joints willbe in contact with each other at the bottom (17), whereby bending of thejoint to the diametrically opposite direction is prevented.
 10. A jointaccording to claim 5, characterized in that each ball joint (3-6)comprises a first, essentially circular-cylindrical part (7), whichpasses over to a second part (8), which has modified ball-shape, thefront upper portion of the first part (7) being bevelled such that, whentwo adjacent ball joints lie in straight position, there is a space (13)at the top between the two adjacent ball joints, which permits bendingof the adjacent ball joints in one direction with respect to one anotherand that a front, lower diametrically opposite portion, is designed suchthat when two adjacent ball joints have a straight position, the twoball joints will be in contact with each other at the bottom (17),whereby bending of the joint to the diametrically opposite direction isprevented.
 11. The joint according to claim 4, wherein the sleeve (14)is movably positioned about the ball joints (3-6) to be located invarious positions where none, some or all of the adjacent ball joints(3-6) are locked in straight position with respect to one another. 12.The joint according to claim 5, wherein the locking means is constitutedby a sleeve (16) movably positioned within the ball joints (3-6) to belocated in various positions where none, some or all of the adjacentball joints (3-6) are locked in straight position with respect to oneanother.
 13. A joint according to claim 12, characterized in that eachball joint (3-6) comprises a first, essentially circular-cylindricalpart (7), which passes over to a second part (8), which has modifiedball-shape, the front upper portion of the first part (7) being bevelledsuch that, when two adjacent ball joints lie in straight position, thereis a space (13) at the top between the two adjacent ball joints, whichpermits bending of the adjacent ball joints in one direction withrespect to one another, and that a front, lower, diametrically oppositeportion, is designed such that when two adjacent ball joints have astraight position, the two ball joints will be in contact with eachother at the bottom (17), whereby bending of the joint to thediametrically opposite direction is prevented.
 14. A joint according toclaim 11, characterized in that each ball joint (3-6) comprises a first,essentially circular-cylindrical part (7), which passes over to a secondpart (8), which has modified ball-shape, the front upper portion of thefirst part (7) being bevelled such that, when two adjacent ball jointslie in straight position, there is a space (13) at the top between thetwo adjacent ball joints, which permits bending of the adjacent balljoints in one direction with respect to one another, and that a front,lower, diametrically opposite portion, is designed such that when twoadjacent ball joints have a straight position, the two ball joints willbe in contact with each other at the bottom (17), whereby bending of thejoint to the diametrically opposite direction is prevented.
 15. Thejoint according to claim 1, wherein said connected parts form at leastpart of a hose.
 16. The joint according to claim 15, forming part of avacuum cleaner, wherein one of said connected parts is rigidly connectedto a nozzle and the other connected part at the joint is, in turn,connected to the vacuum cleaner itself.
 17. The joint according to claim6, wherein the front upper portion of the first part (7) is bevelled totaper the space (13) in a direction from the top to the bottom of thelower diametrically opposite portion.
 18. The joint according to claim7, wherein the front upper portion of the first part (7) is bevelled totaper the space (13) in a direction from the top to the bottom of thelower diametrically opposite portion.
 19. The joint according to claim13, wherein the front upper portion of the first part (7) is bevelled totaper the space (13) in a direction from the top to the bottom of thelower diametrically opposite portion.
 20. The joint according to claim14, wherein the front upper portion of the first part (7) is bevelled totaper the space (13) in a direction from the top to the bottom of thelower diametrically opposite portion.